NEW ORLEANS (AP) The basket had to be lowered so Georgia State coach Ron Hunter could cut the final pieces of the net following his team's 38-36 victory over Georgia Southern on Sunday to win the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship game.

Hunter, whose son R.J. made the deciding free throws with 21.6 seconds left, injured his achilles tendon in the immediate postgame celebration and had to be helped off the court. He did return to be with his team as they cut down the nets with his snips being a lot closer to the court.

Hunter said the pleasure of embracing his son for a few seconds was worth the pain.